Terms of Service

Last Updated: May 27, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the CardChain mobile application, website, and related services (collectively, the "Service") operated by CardChain, Inc. ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE CARDCHAIN.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable laws and regulations. CardChain reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time with at least 30 days' notice via email or in-app notification. Continued use after changes become effective constitutes acceptance. Certain features may be subject to additional terms presented at the time you access those features.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

Age Requirements

  • You must be at least 13 years old to create an account
  • Users under 18 may use CardChain for viewing, portfolio tracking, and purchasing only
  • You must be at least 18 years old to independently sell cards on the marketplace
  • Users ages 13-17 may sell cards only if a parent or legal guardian creates and manages the seller account, connects their bank account, and handles all shipping and transactions on behalf of the minor
  • Users under 13 are prohibited from using the Service in compliance with COPPA

Account Requirements

You must provide a valid email address, username, and password (or use social login via Apple or Google). You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and all activities under your account. Provide accurate information and keep it updated. One account per person — creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions is prohibited.

3. Description of Service

CardChain is a peer-to-peer marketplace and portfolio management platform for sports trading cards. Our Service includes:

  • Portfolio Management — digital collection tracking, real-time market values, investment analytics, price alerts
  • Marketplace — buying and selling cards between users, AI-powered listing creation and pricing, integrated payments via Stripe, shipping rate calculation and label generation
  • AI Features — card recognition and identification, automated grading assessment (estimates only), market value predictions, listing optimization
  • Social Features — public profiles, following collectors, messaging and offers, ratings and reviews

CardChain is a marketplace platform that connects buyers and sellers. We are not a party to transactions between users. Contracts for sale are formed directly between buyers and sellers.

4. AI-Powered Features and Disclaimers

CardChain uses third-party AI services for card identification, condition estimates, market value predictions, and listing recommendations.

AI analysis and market data are provided for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed to be accurate. You acknowledge that:

  • AI analysis and market pricing data are estimates only and may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated
  • AI grading is not a substitute for professional grading services (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc.)
  • AI pricing predictions are not financial or investment advice
  • You assume all risk from relying on AI features and market data
  • AI models are continuously updated and may produce different results over time
  • AI cannot authenticate cards or detect counterfeits

5. Marketplace Terms

Payment Processing

All payments are processed through Stripe. By using the marketplace, you agree to Stripe's Services Agreement and Connected Account Agreement.

Fees

  • Buyers: No transaction or payment processing fees. Optional Pro subscription at $4.99/month.
  • Sellers: Transaction fee of 7% + $0.30 per sale (deducted from seller payout). This covers all payment processing costs.

Example: On a $100 sale, the seller receives $92.70. All fees are subject to change with 30 days' notice.

Taxes

Users are responsible for determining and paying all applicable taxes. CardChain may collect and remit sales tax where required by law. Sellers who meet IRS thresholds will receive Form 1099-K.

6. Seller Obligations

  • Be at least 18 years old (or have parent/guardian manage the account for ages 13-17)
  • Complete seller verification via Stripe and provide valid bank account information
  • Provide truthful, accurate descriptions and authentic photographs of actual cards being sold
  • Accurately represent card condition; disclose all defects, alterations, or restoration
  • Ship items within the specified handling time (default: 3 business days) with tracking
  • Package items securely and ship to the exact address provided
  • Respond to buyer messages within 24-48 hours
  • Honor listed prices when buyers commit to purchase

Sellers may not: sell counterfeit or altered cards, engage in shill bidding or price manipulation, create fake reviews, solicit off-platform transactions, cancel orders without valid cause, or engage in bait-and-switch tactics.

7. Buyer Obligations

  • By clicking "Buy Now" or having an offer accepted, you enter a binding contract to purchase
  • Provide valid payment information and complete payment immediately
  • Provide accurate and complete shipping addresses
  • Inspect items within 3 calendar days of delivery and report discrepancies immediately
  • Open buyer protection claims within 3 calendar days for automatic coverage
  • After 3 days, disputes may be submitted within 30 days but resolution is at CardChain's discretion
  • Do not file chargebacks without first attempting resolution with the seller and CardChain

8. Payment and Payout Terms

  • Buyer payments are processed immediately; funds are held in escrow until delivery confirmation
  • Seller payouts are issued via Stripe after delivery is confirmed and the 3-day buyer protection period ends
  • Payment methods: credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay (subject to availability). All payments are in USD.
  • Funds may be held for disputes, fraud investigations, or risk review
  • Buyers may cancel orders before shipping. Refunds are processed through the original payment method within 5-10 business days.

9. Shipping and Delivery

  • Sellers are responsible for shipping and bear risk of loss until delivery confirmation
  • CardChain provides real-time shipping rates, label purchasing, tracking integration, and address validation via integrated shipping services
  • Buyers pay shipping costs (unless seller offers free shipping)
  • Delivery is considered complete when tracking shows "delivered"
  • CardChain currently only supports shipping within the United States
  • Claims for lost/damaged items should be filed with the carrier. CardChain may mediate but is not responsible for carrier issues.

10. Buyer Protection Policy

CardChain provides limited buyer protection for: item not received, item not as described, damaged in transit, and counterfeit items.

  • Within 3 days of delivery: automatic buyer protection coverage. Contact the seller first, then open a claim with evidence.
  • 4-30 days after delivery: discretionary review. Submit a support ticket; resolution is not guaranteed.

Buyer protection does not cover: buyer's remorse, subjective grading disputes, minor condition differences accurately disclosed, shipping delays beyond seller's control, or damage caused by the buyer. Fraudulent claims may result in account termination.

11. Ratings and Reviews

Users may rate transactions on item accuracy, communication, shipping speed, and overall experience. Reviews must be honest, not contain threats or personal attacks, and not be used for extortion. Sellers with poor performance may face warnings, reduced visibility, restrictions, or termination. Sellers may dispute reviews containing false information.

12. Subscription Services

  • Free Tier: access to all core features; ad-supported experience
  • Pro Tier ($4.99/month): ad-free experience plus additional premium features

Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled. Cancel at any time through account settings — cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period with no partial refunds. Subscriptions purchased through Apple App Store or Google Play are subject to those platforms' terms.

13. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the Service (software, UI, logos, AI models, databases) are owned by CardChain or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license for personal, non-commercial use.

By posting content (listings, photos, reviews, messages), you grant CardChain a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, distribute, and use your content for the Service and marketing. You retain ownership.

DMCA

CardChain complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. To report infringement, contact our Copyright Agent at dmca@cardchain.ai with identification of the copyrighted work, the infringing material, your contact information, and a good-faith statement.

14. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to: violate any laws, engage in fraud or money laundering, sell stolen property, interfere with the Service, bypass security measures, introduce malware, harass or threaten users, impersonate others, list counterfeit cards, manipulate prices or ratings, create fake sales, solicit off-platform transactions, or create multiple accounts.

Violations may result in content removal, warnings, account suspension or termination, forfeiture of funds, or legal action.

15. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time through account settings. CardChain may suspend or terminate accounts for Terms violations, fraud, security risks, or legal requirements. Upon termination: active listings are removed, pending transactions must be completed, outstanding payment obligations remain, and personal data is deleted within 90 days (subject to legal retention requirements). Transaction records may be retained for up to 7 years.

16. Dispute Resolution

Before filing a legal claim, contact legal@cardchain.ai for informal resolution (30-day attempt). These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Legal actions must be brought in Delaware state or federal courts. You agree to resolve disputes individually — no class actions. Either party may bring claims in small claims court if the claim qualifies.

17. Disclaimers and Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. CardChain disclaims all warranties including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not guarantee successful transactions, accuracy of AI analysis, authenticity of listed cards, or uninterrupted service.

Trading cards are speculative investments. CardChain does not provide investment advice. You assume all risk of loss, market volatility, counterfeits, and shipping damage.

18. Limitation of Liability

CardChain's total liability is limited to the greater of $100 USD or the total fees you paid in the 12 months preceding the claim. CardChain is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, lost profits, or damages from reliance on AI analysis. This applies regardless of legal theory. Some jurisdictions may not allow these limitations.

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CardChain from claims arising from your use of the Service, violations of these Terms, infringement of third-party rights, content you post, and transactions with other users.

20. Privacy

Your use of the Service is governed by our Privacy Policy. By using the Service, you consent to our data practices. Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, export, or opt out of certain data uses. Contact privacy@cardchain.ai.

21. International Users

CardChain is operated from and incorporated in the United States (Delaware). The Service and shipping are currently only available in the United States. You may not export or re-export the application except as authorized by U.S. law. You represent that you are not in a U.S.-embargoed country or on any restricted party list.

22. Miscellaneous

  • These Terms and the Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and CardChain
  • If any provision is invalid, the remaining provisions continue in effect
  • CardChain's failure to enforce any right does not waive it
  • You may not assign these Terms; CardChain may assign without restriction
  • CardChain is not liable for delays due to force majeure (natural disasters, war, government actions, internet failures)
  • Notices may be provided via email, in-app notification, or the Service. Send notices to legal@cardchain.ai
  • These Terms are in English. Translations are for convenience only.

23. Contact Information

CardChain, Inc.
Legal: legal@cardchain.ai
Support: support@cardchain.ai
Privacy: privacy@cardchain.ai
DMCA: dmca@cardchain.ai

By clicking "I Agree," creating an account, or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.